CVE-2025-10897 is a path traversal vulnerability classified under CWE-22 found in the WooCommerce Designer Pro theme for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.9.28. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to perform arbitrary file reads on the server by exploiting insufficient validation and restriction of file path inputs. This flaw enables attackers to access sensitive files outside the intended directory scope, notably the wp-config.php file, which contains database credentials and other critical configuration data. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.6, reflecting its high severity due to network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C) that affects resources beyond the vulnerable component. While no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability’s nature makes it a prime target for attackers aiming to compromise WordPress-based e-commerce sites. The flaw arises from improper limitation of pathname inputs, allowing traversal sequences (e.g., ../) to access files outside the intended directory. This can lead to exposure of sensitive information, facilitating further attacks such as database compromise or site takeover. The vulnerability was reserved in late September 2025 and published at the end of October 2025. No official patches or fixes have been linked yet, indicating a need for immediate attention by site administrators. The vulnerability affects all versions, implying that any deployment of WooCommerce Designer Pro prior to a patch is vulnerable. Given the widespread use of WooCommerce and WordPress in Europe, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to e-commerce platforms and associated customer data.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-10897 is the compromise of confidentiality due to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive server files, including wp-config.php, which contains database credentials and other critical configuration information. Exposure of these credentials can lead to further compromise of the database, enabling attackers to access customer data, transaction records, or even modify site content. For European organizations, especially those operating e-commerce platforms on WordPress with WooCommerce Designer Pro, this can result in data breaches subject to GDPR regulations, leading to legal penalties and reputational damage. The vulnerability does not directly affect integrity or availability but facilitates subsequent attacks that could. The ease of exploitation (no authentication or user interaction required) increases the likelihood of automated scanning and exploitation attempts. The scope change means that the attacker can access files beyond the plugin’s directory, potentially exposing other sensitive system files. This threat is particularly critical for small and medium enterprises relying on WordPress themes without dedicated security teams, increasing their risk exposure. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for mitigation, but the high CVSS score and nature of the vulnerability suggest rapid weaponization is possible.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting file system permissions on the web server to limit the ability of the web application to read sensitive files such as wp-config.php. 2. Monitor web server logs for suspicious requests containing path traversal patterns (e.g., ../) targeting the WooCommerce Designer Pro endpoints. 3. Disable or remove the WooCommerce Designer Pro theme if not essential until a patch is released. 4. Apply any official patches or updates from JMA Plugins as soon as they become available. 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block path traversal attempts targeting WordPress themes and plugins. 6. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans focusing on WordPress installations and their plugins/themes. 7. Educate site administrators on the risks of using outdated or unpatched themes and the importance of timely updates. 8. Consider isolating WordPress installations in containerized or sandboxed environments to limit the impact of potential file disclosure. 9. Backup critical data regularly and ensure backups are stored securely offline to enable recovery in case of compromise. 10. Review and harden WordPress configuration and permissions to minimize exposure of sensitive files.